Royal Stoke Hospital is prepared to become a leading center for robotic surgery in the United Kingdom. Their plans to use cutting edge technology in their surgical practices are ambitious and impressive. The National Health Service (NHS) recently announced its intention to fund half a million of the procedures annually via robotic surgery. They hope to reach that milestone by 2035. All of this is a big deal, together signifying a groundbreaking change in surgical techniques. This is a transformation that the Royal Stoke Hospital has been at the forefront of.
That figure for the current fiscal year 2023-24 is about 70,000 procedures—up nearly 20 percent from last year. This creative approach dramatically increases operational efficiency. It is projected to save approximately 5,000 bed days per year, improving patient flow and patient care. These days gained at Royal Stoke only through robotic surgery now stands at around 3,000 bed days saved per year.
Looking to the future, the NHS estimates that in the next 10 years, 90 percent of all keyhole surgeries will include a robotic hand. In doing so, robotic surgery will become the default approach for thousands of procedures at every level of the healthcare ecosystem.
Royal Stoke Hospital is at the forefront of robotic surgery. It was the first hospital in England to adopt the pioneering new “Magic Leap” surgical system. In this state-of-the-art system, surgeons wear specially designed virtual reality goggles. These goggles provide surgeons with a highly specialized 3D picture of a patient’s spine as they operate. The hospital is about to launch some new technology. This first-of-its-kind system will not only provide surgeons with real time feedback on tissue resistance, it will drastically increase precision in complex procedures.
“Supporting projects that make a lasting difference to local communities remains a core focus of the foundation,” stated a representative from the hospital. This innovative project further supports Royal Stoke’s mission of providing advanced surgical services.
The new technology is expected to benefit more than 1,000 patients per year. It will help perform some of the most complicated and delicate procedures, including emergency surgeries and open heart operations. Philip Varghese, a consultant colorectal surgeon at University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM), emphasized the significance of this development:
“This expansion significantly strengthens our ability to deliver robotic surgery across a wider range of complex procedures.” – Philip Varghese
With support from UHNM, this project considerably increases our surgical capacity. It is expected to get more patients across the entire tri-state region access to world-class surgical care — right in their own neighborhoods. A representative from the hospital added:
“This investment will allow more patients across the region to benefit from world-leading surgical care closer to home.” – Coates